ISSN 2756-3413
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (3), pp. 045-049, March, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of Salmonella enterica contamination of camel milk in Kenya
Lusaka Ayah*, Mboya Kaggia and Jirongo Mwendwa
Department of Dairy Technology and Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Egerton University, Kenya.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 15 November, 2006
Abstract
This study was undertaken to conduct a baseline risk analysis of raw camel milk with special emphasis on Salmonella enterica serovars. Cross-sectional studies were designed to investigate the prevalence of S. enterica serovars in a major camel milk production zone of Kenya. A total of 196 samples were assessed for possible presence of S. enterica. The samples included composite milk from the individual camel udders, bulk milk from collection and market centres, faeces, soil and water samples. Of the 196 samples tested, 43% (84/196) were found to contain Salmonella species. Out of the 84, only 31% (26/84) was positively identified as S. enterica. S. enterica was found in all the sample categories that repre-sented the camel milk production environment. The results suggest that raw camel milk contamination by S. enterica was influenced by post-harvest handling of the product rather than camel infection by the pathogen. It was concluded that a need exists to formulate better regulation strategies for the safe handling of camel milk on rural Kenyan farms.
Key words: Camel milk; Salmonella enterica, Milk safety, Kenya.
Lusaka Ayah*, Mboya Kaggia and Jirongo Mwendwa
Page: 45 - 49
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (6), pp. 090-097, June, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In vitro screening of antibacterial activity of various Indian plant species
*Misra Eradi Sujata
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 13 April, 2007
Abstract
Thirty four medicinal plants, belonging to twenty eight different families, were screened for potential antibacterial activity against six bacterial strains belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, viz. Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC13048, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIM2719, Proteus mirabilis NCIM 2241, Proteus vulgaris NCTC8313, and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC23564. Antibacterial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts was tested by the agar disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. The ethanol/methanol extracts were more active than aqueous extracts for all the plants studied. The most susceptible bacterium was K. pneumoniae, while the most resistant bacteria were S. typhimurium and E. coli. From the screening experiment, Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. showed best antibacterial activity. Hence, this plant may be used further to isolate and evaluate the therapeutic antimicrobials.
Key words: Medicinal plants, antibacterial activity, aqueous extracts, alcoholic extracts, Enterobacteriaceae.
*Misra Eradi Sujata
Page: 90 - 97
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (5), pp. 063-076, May, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Environmental characterization of some selected bacteria species
*Hausner Borowski, Gliński Gowin and Oleksy Rostowski
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Poland.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 04 March, 2007
Abstract
The presented study aims to characterize Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079 and DSM 20242 and Bifidobacterium bifidum DSM 20082, DSM 20215, DSM 20239 and DSM 20456 strains. Within the framework of the performed investigations, the author evaluated their biochemical properties, resistance to antibiotics, antagonism towards selected pathogens as well as the effect on their survivability of different environmental conditions with special emphasis on the conditions prevailing in the human gastrointestinal tract. The performed experiments revealed significant differences between the examined bacterial species as well as between strains of the same species. All the examined strains were characterized by diverse biochemical properties, resistance to antibiotics and showed antagonistic action against Helicobacter pylori bacteria. The tested strains of the L. acidophilus bacteria were found to exhibit antagonistic activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis bacteria, although the observed activity was smaller in comparison with the antagonistic activity against H. pylori. These data confirm reports about the antagonistic effect of probiotic bacteria on the growth of pathogenic bacteria. All the examined bacterial strains fulfil the basic criterion expected from probiotic strains, that is, are capable of surviving in the ‘in vitro’ conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, at low pH and in the presence of bile salts.
Key words: Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, probiotic, antibiotic resistance, acidity resistance, bile tolerance, antagonistic activity.
Gliński Gowin and Oleksy Rostowski, *Hausner Borowski
Page: 63 - 76
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (10), pp. 120-122, October, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the prevalence of HCCA in patients with and without HBV in Northeast Nigeria
*Umar Nuhu1, Rabiu Zaynab1 and Sadiq Mutallab2
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 12 January, 2007
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported as one of the aetiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCA). This study reports the prevalence of HCCA in patients with and without HBV in Northeast Nigeria over a period of five years. A total of 114 patients consecutively diagnosed with HCCA and tested for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), between January 1996 and December 2000, were studied. There were 81 males and 33 females, ranging in age between 9 months and above 60 years. Of the 114 patients with HCCA, 86.8% were positive for HBsAg of which males accounted for a higher prevalence of 63.1%, while females accounted for 23.7% (2.7:1). HCCA patients from the fouth decade of life and above were observed with a higher prevalence of HBV infection. Among the HBsAg-negative patients with HCCA, no significant gender difference was observed (p > 0.05). However, 13.2% of patients with HCCA were negative for HBsAg. Viral and non-viral aetiologic factors may play a role in developing HCCA in Maiduguri.
Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Hepatitis B virus.
*Umar Nuhu, Rabiu Zaynab and Sadiq Mutallab
Page: 120 - 122
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (2), pp. 036-040, February, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An evaluation of the antibacterial activity of root extracts of Carica papaya L.
*Falola Aboderin, Isaac Idachaba and Rasaki Aramide
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 22 April, 2007
Abstract
The bioactive compounds of root extracts of Carica papaya L. were extracted, using water and organic solvents, and were investigated for antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria using the cup plate agar diffusion method. The aqueous extracts did not show significant activity, but the organic extracts had significant activity with the methanol extracts demonstrating the highest activity against the test bacteria. The extracts demonstrated higher activities against all the gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive bacteria tested, with the highest activity (14 mm zone of inhibition) demonstrated against Salmonella typhi. Increase in temperature enhanced the activity of the extracts, while alkaline pH decreased the activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranged between 50-200 mg/ml. Preliminary phytochemical analyses showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and phenols. Carica papaya may be used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, uretritis, otitis media, typhoid fever and wound infections.
Key words: Carica papaya L., antibacterial activity, phytochemical analysis, antibiotics.
*Falola Aboderin, Isaac Idachaba and Rasaki Aramide
Page: 36 - 40
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (2), pp. 041-044, February, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the persistence of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in soil, barley and rosemary plants
Wolinski Karim1, Chemla Tarak2 and Fouad Salah Tahar3
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 03 January, 2007
Abstract
Animal wastes in the form of manure frequently contain enteric pathogenic microorganisms and land spreading can lead to pathogen entry into the food chain. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the persistence of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in soil, and on barley and rosemary plants. We observed that Salmonella typhimurium persisted for an extended period of time (203 to 231 days), and could be detected on infected vegetative parts of the rosemary and barley plants even after desiccation. After approximately two months, the colony morphology displayed a mucoid and rugose phenotype. Smooth colony morphology was acquired following incubation in nutrient broth and upon isolation from the digestive tracts of mice that had been challenged orally with stressed S. typhimurium. S. typhimurium was neither isolated from vegetative parts formed after plant contamination, nor from barley seeds and rosemary flowers.
Keywords: Salmonella, soil, rosemary, barley, contamination.
Chemla Tarak and Fouad Salah Tahar, Wolinski Karim
Page: 41 - 44